TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001288 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL JCS PASS J-5/CDR S. WRIGHT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009 In Today's Papers Victory Day Celebrated All Over Turkey All papers: The 87th anniversary of the August 30 Victory Day was celebrated throughout Turkey. Both top government officials and Turkish Armed Forces senior staff attended events. The Turkish General Staff (TGS) organized this year's celebrations under the theme "Powerful Army, Powerful Turkey." The celebrations began with a visit to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk by Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug and his delegation. A parade was later held in Ankara and observed by President Gul, Parliament Speaker Sahin, PM Erdogan, opposition CHP leader Baykal and other state officials at the Ataturk Cultural Center. Basbug also hosted an evening reception marking the 1922 victory. Basbug called for integrity and unity in his remarks at the reception that brought governing and opposition parties together. Mainstream Milliyet reports that during the reception PM Erdogan signaled that he wanted to discuss government's Kurdish opening with CHP leader Baykal. Earlier Deputy PM Bulent Arinc said they were ready to kiss the hand of CHP leader Deniz Baykal if this would help solve the problems. Four Martyrs in Hakkari All papers: Mainstream Hurriyet reports that a statement was posted on the TGS web site yesterday saying that four soldiers including a non-commissioned officer were killed Sunday in a clash with PKK terrorists in the southern province of Hakkari. Mainstream Milliyet says that PKK terrorists attacked the soldiers - who were on their way to an operation - with hand grenades in Semdinli. Liberal Radikal notes that Prime Minister Erdogan described the attack as an attempt to hamper Turkey's recent Kurdish opening and said that the attack will not undermine our determination. MHP leader Bahceli said "terrorism was encouraged. Attacks will continue." CHP leader Baykal said "those who say that 'nothing happens even if PKK does not lay down arms' should think again. In a related story, Sabah reported that the TGS website announced that security forces discovered a two-story cave where PKK's ammunition was hidden in a rural section of Sirnak's Beytussebap district. An anti-aircraft missile was among the weapons and ammunition found. Erdogan: Kurdish 'Democratic Move' Will Be Completed Regardless Of Cost Media outlets REPORT Prime Minister Erdogan said on Sunday his government's Kurdish initiative ("democratic move") would be completed "regardless of its cost." Erdogan noted that NGOs, academics, media, universities, foundations and associations were extending support to the project. The PM said Turkey's economy and democracy would be stronger when the project was completed. In "Critical Week Regarding the Kurdish Initiative," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports that Interior Minister Besir Atalay will hold a press conference Monday to explain the "democratic move" process and what will follow next. Papers REPORT that on September 1, 'World Peace Day,' some one million people are expected to turn up in a mass rally in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir to acknowledge the government's recent efforts to resolve the Kurdish issue. "The rally in Diyarbakir will be the voice of peace from our people," said DTP leader Ahmet Turk over the weekend. Papers also expect the rally may coincide with an announcement by Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed PKK, of his 'roadmap' to peace. Editorial Debate on Kurdish Initiative Omer Taspinar wrote in mainstream Sabah: "It is disappointing to see Turkey constantly driven by conspiracy theories. Regarding the latest Kurdish initiative, politicians are now telling the public that this is an American plan by citing a meeting at Atlantic Council as proof. How hard it is to figure out that there are numerous NGOs in the U.S. and regardless of their political tendency they are not the voice of administration?" ANKARA 00001288 002 OF 003 Tamer Korkmaz wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "There is no basis to claim that the government is adapting a plan designed by the U.S. and other foreign powers. First of all, the government managed to free itself from U.S. influence over the last three years. This is a period in which the U.S. lost the war in Iraq and Turkey on the other hand gained more clout and power in the region. Thus this is the very time for Ankara to move ahead on a Kurdish initiative action plan and implement it independently." Kadri Gursel wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "We have seen nothing but political rhetoric so far on the Kurdish or democratic initiative. It is interesting to see remarks from government officials as they claim to be taking a big risk even though there is no plan put forward publicly. If things go as they have so far we can expect two outcomes: the government will not take any concrete action and will blame the military for preventing it or it will call for an early election." Ankara Wants Damascus to Allow Return of Syrian-Origin PKK Militants (Taraf) Sunday's Taraf reports that Ankara is pressing Damascus to clear the way for the return of Syrian PKK militants to Syria. Ankara also wants Damascus to grant Syrian nationality to 75,000 Kurds who have no identity papers. In doing so, Ankara believes that the settlement of the nationality problem in Syria would encourage 2,000 PKK militants of Syrian origin to lay down their weapons. Taraf expects Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss the issue during his visit to Damascus on Monday. FM Shoots Down Turkey Missile Shield Claims Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu paid an official visit to the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana on Saturday and responded to a reporter's question regarding media claims that the Obama administration could install a missile defense shield in Turkey. Davutoglu said, "The news REPORT is not accurate and we have not received such a demand from the USA or NATO." Meanwhile, columnist Ismail Kuccukaya of Aksam writes, "Prime Minister Erdogan is expected to go to Washington soon to discuss missile shield plans with U.S. officials." In a related story, NTV reports that, "After Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Davutoglu, he decided to travel to Baghdad and Damascus today in order to assist with resolving border disputes between the two countries." Also, CNN Turk reports Davutoglu will travel to Egypt September 1-3, and some reports indicate Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal will be in Cairo at the same time. Aksam Claims the U.S. Will Move Troops through Incirlik Mainstream Aksam claims that they have obtained a document from the Incirlik Base 39th Air Wing Command indicating that 100,000 US troops will begin transiting Incirlik from Iraq to the U.S. by the end of December 2009. The paper reports the base is "on the alert" as the Pentagon "is preparing to complete the exit of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year," and, "100,000 of the 142,000 US troops in Iraq will be transported through Incirlik." They will go back to the U.S. after a ten-day stay in Incirlik, Aksam notes. Aksam says that there was "busy activity" to make preparations for meeting the logistical needs of the U.S. soldiers. The capacity of the base has been expanded to prepare the ground for the huge operation. Aksam says that the first dispatch of U.S. troops from Incirlik to the US was expected before Christmas. US Offered Bribe to Scotland on the Lockerbie Bomber (Cumhuriyet) "The US Administration offered a bribe to Scottish authorities in order not to release the Lockerbie bomber," wrote leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet. The U.S. offered to finance house arrest for Megrahi but Scotland did not accept it. Meanwhile a BBC survey indicates that more than half of the Scottish people consider Megrahi's release a bad decision, the paper added. TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic ANKARA 00001288 003 OF 003 - MHP's Mehmet Sandir warns that an ethnic approach to Turkey's problems would pave the way for the division of the country. - Alevi groups have staged protests in Istanbul to protest compulsory religious instruction in elementary and secondary schools. - 'Turkey Party' leader Abdullatif Sener says that Turkey's Kurdish initiative has coincided with a time when American troops were leaving Iraq. - A police officer is arrested in Gaziantep for firing his gun in the air and killing a 41-year old street vendor. - The Revenue Administration has launched a tax investigation against liquor producers and exporters. - This year, Turkish grain production is expected to increase by 4 million tons. World - About 1,000 homes have been evacuated as a wildfire rages in the mountains above Los Angeles. - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas starts a five-day visit to Arab and European countries. - Israel bombs a tunnel in Gaza allegedly used to smuggle Palestinian terrorists from Gaza into Israel. - Following a bitter defeat in elections, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has announced his resignation as head of the party that has governed Japan for decades. JEFFREY